Tastebuds will be tingling as foodies get their teeth into some culinary delights when Wokingham Food & Drink Festival returns to the town this weekend.

The annual event showcases the finest local and regional produce, along with some treats from further afield in the UK and overseas.

Organisers are particularly proud this year as around 70 per cent of exhibitors signed up are based within the Thames Valley region.

Organiser Kate Lole says: “This is why we started the Wokingham Festival in the first place, because we knew we had so much on our doorstep.

“We felt with so much locally we should do something and in the last three years it has come on tremendously.

“I think those who start their own business, no matter how small, have some kudos.

“These people are fabulous and work so hard and we have tried to keep the festival as affordable as possible, especially compared to some of the bigger shows.

“The issue we had in the past is that people think we are run by the council and this year we have had our funding cut from Wokingham Town Council.

“Everything we put on that field we pay for."

Visitors can not only sample a range of produce, but they can also taste a variety of wines, beer and ales and take part in the new cocktail-making demonstration.

This year’s festival kicks off on Friday night with performances from folk rock artists the Howard Timberlake Band, The Convulsions and Heathrow Jets on the TradeMark Music Stage.

Those looking for inspiration in the kitchen or just wanting to try something different should head down to Elms Field on Saturday and Sunday where musical entertainment continues alongside the food and beer festival.

Kate says: “I’m really pleased we have a nice lot of stallholders returning and we have some new stallholders as well.